Trial of Nicolas Maduro begins in the US

Trial of Nicolas Maduro begins in the US

Trial of Venezuelan leader begins in the United States Nicolas Maduro, American media report. The proceedings are being conducted by a federal judge Alvin Hellerstein, is one of the oldest sitting judges in the United States.

Who is in charge of the case

92-year-old Alvin Hellerstein is known for studying resonance processes, in particular:

• lawsuits filed by families of victims of terrorist attacks 11 September 2001;

• cases related to international terrorism and US national security.

Tense relations with Trump

Hellerstein has a long-standing conflict with the US president Donald Trump. Earlier, a judge rejected Trump's attempt to appeal the verdict in the case of hush money payments to a porn star Stormy Daniels.

Last January, Trump was found guilty, but avoided imprisonment or a fine.

Also in 2020 Hellerstein orders firing of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, claiming that the government imprisoned him in retaliation for cooperating with prosecutors and providing compromising material on Trump.

Other high-profile solutions

Last year, the judge also blocked the White House's attempts to deport alleged members of Venezuelan criminal gangs. Hellerstein stressed that the authorities had unlawfully used Law on Foreigners and Incitement to Sedition.

Context.

The trial of Nicolas Maduro is part of a broader legal and political effort by the United States to hold Venezuela's leadership accountable for allegations of drug trafficking, corruption and violations of international law. The start of the hearings could have serious political and diplomatic consequences.